Cover installation for storage bins



May 10, 1932.

D. E. STAIR ET AL COVER INSTALLATION FOR STORAGE BINS Filed Oct. 12, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet l May 10; 1932. D. E. sTAlR ET AL.

COVER INSTALLATION FOR STORAGE BINS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed oct. 12.Y 192s Patented May 10, 1932 UiTE-D STATES kPareti DANIEL E. STAIR, F HUDSON, NEW YORK, AND CHARLES L. MCDONALD, OF WASHING'-v ASSIGNOR TO GIFFORD-WOOD'COMPANY, 0F HUDSON, OF NEW YORK Y TON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, NEIN YORK, .A CORPORATION T OFFICE COVER INSTALLATION FOR STORAGE BINS Y Application filed October 12, 1928.` Serial No. 312,098.

This invention relates to covers for storage bins and, among other objects, aims to provide a hatchway cover installation having improved mechanism and control means therefor whereby an operator inaycause any selected one of the covers to be automatically opened by a trolley car or carrier to permit dumping of material into the bins. n

This application embodies improvements on the copeiiding applications of D. E. Stair filed October 12, 1928, Serial Nos. 312,099 and 312,100.

In the drawings,

Fig. 1 is a plan view showing an illustran tive installation of covers applied to a series of storage bins, one of the covers being shown in open position;

Fig. 2 is a vertical, longitudinal, sectional View through one of the bins drawn on an enlarged scale and showing' a portion of a trolley car in section;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary, longitudinal, sectional view through the cover mechanism and drawn on a still larger scale; and

Fig. lis a fragmentary operating lever and solenoid armature.

Referring particularly to the drawings, the

improvements are shown as being applied to a storage bin installation similar to those shown and described in said Stair applications. Such installations include generally a Y series of storage bins 9 having hatchways in the roof 10, saidhatchways each being normally closed by a movable cover 11 arranged to be opened when a load of material is to be dumped within a bin from a trolley car or conveyor 12 mounted on rails above the bins. The covers are here shown as being mounted to move up inclined tracks 13 to open position and are adapted to close by gravity.

In order that any selected one of the covers may be automatically opened by thetrolley car, movable abutments 14 cover and are adapted `to be engaged by a fixed abutment 15er other part of the car or conveyor. Herein, the movable abutments are normally out ofthe plane of travel of the fixed abutment on the car, but are constructed be engaged by said Xed abutment.

plan view of the Y are `shown `on the In the Ypresent example, each of the movable abutments is in the form of an arm 16 pivoted as at 17 to a stationary bracket 18 on the cover 11, said arm being connected to be actuated by a movable plunger 19 (Figs. 2 and 3). The arm is provided with an offset counterwei'ght 20 which normally rests on the top of the cover and holds the arm below the plane on the car, as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 3. When a cover is to be opened by the car, the arm 16 is swung upwardly into substantially vertical position and strikes against the upstanding leg 21 of the bracket 18, the upper end being in position to be engaged by the abutment 15 to open the cover.

The mechanism for raising the arm 16 to operative position is shown as comprising a of travel of the fixed abutment 15 crank arm 22 which secured thereto and has Y a pin and slot connection with the upper end of a plunger 23 slidably mounted in a sleeve 24 extending through the cover. The lower end of the plunger 23 has a pin and slot connection with one end of a lever 25 ,which is pivoted intermediate its ends at 26 ont-lie under side of the cover, the other free end 27 of the lever extending slightly beyond the lower end of the cover and passing beneath the roof through an opening in one of the roof beams;` jThe combined weight of the free end 27 of the lever 25 and of the counterweight 201s such as to cause the operating mechanism, thus far described, to assume the positions shown in Fig. in Fig. 3, thearm 16 Vhen the free end 27 is Y be in operative position,

in Fig. 3.

In order to raise the free end 27 it is slotted (Figs..3 and 4) to provide al cross bar 2 8, which coac-ts with cam portions formed `on the plunger 19. The cani portions 29 and 30 are inclined upwardly toward each other andare connected at their upper ends by a straight portion 31 on-which the cross bar restsfwhen raised. When the plunger is in normal position (Fig. 2),. the cross bar 28 rests on the main body of the plunger behind the rear inclined Vportion 29 which then extends upwardly through the slot in the end 2 and in dotted lines 27 of the lever. -When the plunger is moved away from the cover, or to the left, as viewed in the drawings, the cross bar 28 will ride up the inclined portion 29 and come to rest on the straight portion 31, causing the arm 16 to rise to operative position, as shown in full lines in Fig. 3.

The plunger is adapted to be actuated by a solenoid 32,preferably constituting-the armature vof the solenoid, as shown, although the plunger may be separate from and connected to the armature. Whatever the arrangement, the plunger is .to be. automatically returned to normal position when the lsolenoid circuit is broken.

be -empl-oyed to support the plunger.

' it may bey grasped .ground and pulled lto operate themechanism. ATo cause the car to tstop `when the ,cover is l lnjorder to manually operate the `plunger f in caseoi necessity, a cablet may be connected to the Yplunger tand passed over a pulley on the outside of the bin to the ground, where by [an attendant on the open, Va 4stop switch 36 which .is` lmounted on .the car, is y,connected in the motor circuit of the carfandliasI a depending plunger 37 adapted tobe -engaged by the upper end of the, arm 16, as: the covernears the Aupper'end of its track.

When the cover-hasreached its open posicurrent 39 yand ,toy

40: 'i 'Inbin installations of this type, the tram foreach bin cover,

tion, thearm 16 willnhave raised the plunger far enough .to open, the sw-itch` .tob'reak the lmotor circuit.

Itis toloe understofd;tliatthere, is to be a separate soleno'd fandl associated mechanism the solenoids being l conw-iring 38y to. an source of a y series ot push button switches-40er ,the like located at anydesired oint.

nectjed by :suitable car is adapted'to be controlled Jfrom ,an operators house on ,thev ground (notshown) fand the switches tor lcontrolling the, solenoids may be located ,in the same house, so that the 45; Icover of any desired bin may -be selected to be lopened by merely 'closingv a switch. Also, the

`'cables 34 lmay be enti-ended` to the operators house, if desired.

' ,If-it, is `desired to ,use the same bin for a considerable length of time, the switch,c on

.trolling the solenoid of the particular bin,

'is left closed Jfor thatperiod,

causingthe i plunger 19 to remainl in its retracted position .or that shown in full lines inFig. ,3. Whenever the car returns for another load and the cover gravitates to closed position, the cross arm` 28 4w-illfstrilre and` ride up` the front inclined portion 30 v.of the plungerand reset the arm4 16, in operative position.

From the foregoing description, it will be l apparenti Vthat the Y improved control, means and cover operating mechanism are utilized to avoid the necessityof having an operator on the caror conveyor.' -Moreover, the arrangement permits a single V:attendant Hon the lf desired, a roller 33 may v bins, vway over bins,

/ way;

ground, who may have a number of different duties, to control the operation of a bin conveyor or a series of conveyors.` I one bin is selected to be lilled, the appropriate switch may be operated to preset the cover mechanism and no further attention to it will be required until another bin is selected. Further, the mechanism is relatively simple and can easily be installed on old storage bins. Obviously the .present invention is not revstricted to the particular embodiment thereof herein shown and described. Moreover, it is not indispensable that all the features of the invention be used conjointly, since they may be employed advantageously in Various com- Abiiiations and ,sub-combinations.

' VThat is claimedV is -1. In combination with a series of storage movable covers over the bins; a tramthe bins; a tram car on the tramway and movable means on the covers selec- -tively'engageable with the tram car whereby the tram carautoiiiatically opens any selected one of said covers.

'2. In combination with a series of storage bins,.movable covers over the bins; a tramway over the bins; a tram car on the tramway; movable means on the covers selectively engageable with the tram car whereby the tram icar automatically opens any selected one ,of said covers; and remote control means for effecting the selective engagement. v

3. In combination with a. series of storage bins having moyable covers and a trolley car adapted to traverse the series; an abutment on' the car; a movable abutment on each cover normally out o the plane of travel of tlieabutnieiit on the car; means for moving the movable abutment into said plane to be engaged by the abutment on the car; and remote control means for said -abutment vmoving means.

4. In ,combination with aseries of storage movable covers over the bins; a traml.Way over the bins; a tram car on the tramivay; an operator-controlled, electrically opto. control said electrical mechanism ,and to govern theselection of the cover to be opened. 6. In combination with .a series of storage bins, movable covers over the bins; a tramlway over the bins; a tram car on the tramway; meanson each cover movable into tram car-engaging position; and a solenoid connected and arranged to actuate said means.

7. In combination with a series of storage lLaminaat bins, .movable covers over thebins; a tram- Way over the bins; a tram car on the tram- Way; means on each cover movable into tram car-engaging position.; and al solenoid con- -nected and arranged to actuate said means; and means to reset said movable means When the cover is re-closed.

8. In combination with bins, movable covers over the bins; a tram- Way `over the bins; a tram car on the tramway; apivoted arm on each cover adapted to be moved into tram car-engaging position; a-nd means for moving said arm.

9. In combination with a series of storage bins, movable covers-over the bins; a tram*- Way over the bins; a tram car on the tram- Way; a pivoted arm 'on each cover adapted to be moved into tram car engaging position; and solenoid operated mechanism for moving said arm.

10. In combination With a` series of storage bins movable covers over the bins; means adapted to automatically close said covers; a movable carrier above said bins; means on the covers selectively engageable with the carrier to cause the carrier to open any one of the covers; and means to reset said means on thecover in carrier-engageable position When the cover returns to closed position.

a series of storage 11. In combination With a series of storage bins having a roof thereon and a hatchway therein for each bin, a movable cover for each hatchway; means adopted to automatically close said covers; a movable carrier on the bins; a slidable plungervassociated with each cover and mounted on the roof; a pivoted arm on each cover adapted to be moved in carrier engaging position; a pivoted linlrconnected to the arm and operable by the plunger to move the arm into position;fand solenoid means for actuating the plunger.

12. In combination with a movablecover of the character described; a pivoted arm on the cover adapted to be selectively engaged by amovable carrier to open the cover; a pivoted lever on the opposite side ofthe. cover having one end connected -tooperate the arm; and remote controlled means including a plunger engageable with the lever and arranged to move and hold the arm in its operative position.

13. of the character described, a pivoted arm on the cover adapted to be selectively engaged by a pivoted lever on Vthe opposite side of the cover having one end connected to operatev the arm; and a solenoid having an armature slidably engaging the free end of .the lever eli'ective to move and hold the pivoted arm in its operative position.

14. In a bin installation having a series of movable hatchvvay covers and a material conveyor to `discharge into the bins, a movable arm on each cover 'adapted to be selec- In combination With'a movable covery movable carrier to open the cover; aY

thereby to clined vtrack for tively engagedk by the carrier; solenoids hav- Ying armatures connected to' actuate the respective arms; and pulling elements connected to said armatures whereby the arms maybe actuated manually.

15. In combination; a series ofV bins, movable covers for the several bins; a material the carrier; a pivoted arm on the top of the V cover adaptedto be moved in position to be engaged by the abutment; a'crank armvcon.- nected to the pivoted arm; a plunger having a pin and slot connection at its upper end With thecrank arm and slidable through the cover; a lever pivoted intermediate its ends beneath thecover and having a pin and slot connection at one end With the lower end of the plunger; operator-controlled`means for actuating the free end of the lever to effect engagementbetween the pivoted arm and? the abutment; sov that the carrier may open the hatchvvay by pushing the cover; and means to close the cover automatically when the carrier moves away.

. 17. In combination with a storage bin, aj

roof on the bin having a hatchway therein; a movable cover for the hatchvvay.;a carrier movable overv the bin; an abutment iXed on the carrier; a pivoted -arm on the top of the cover adapted to be moved in position to `,be

engaged by the abutment; a crankfarm connected to each pivoted arm; a plunger having a pin and slot connection at its upper end with the crank arm and slidable'through the cover; lever pivoted ends beneath the cover and having a pin and slot connection at one end with the lower end of the plunger; the other end of the lever extending beneath the roof and having `a cross bar; l having an armature mounted beneath the roof adjacent to the 'cross bar of the lever; a slidable plunger connected to the armature and having cam portions co-operating `with the cross bar of raise the pivoted` arm so thatit is engaged by the abutment, so that the cover is opened bythe carrier. ,.1 18. In combination with a storage bin,` a roof on the bin having a hatchrvay; an inf the 'hatchivay.: Ya hatchvvay cover adapted to be moved to the upper end of the track to open the hatchvvay and adapted to. gravitatefto*y close the same;`a carrier movable overV the.V bin; an abutment liXe'd on the conveyor;

intermediate its l an' operator-controlled solenoid the lever to raise the same;

end of the track to open able over the bin;

the carrier; an arm pivotallyl mounted on the top of the cover; a countervveighty on the arm to hold the arm normally below the plane of travel of the klower end of the abutment; a crank arm on the pivoted arm; a lever pivotally mounted intermediate its ends on the underside of the cover; means connecting the one end of the lever to the end of the crank arm; the other end of the lever extending beyond the lower end of the cover and beneath the roof; a plunger slidably mounted beneath the roof and co-operating with the free end of the leverto raise the pivoted arm so that it will be engaged by the abutment; means fixed on the cover adjacent the pivoted arm and forming a stop for said arm to prevent it from being swung beyond the upright position and to transmit the thrust fromy the moving abutment to the cover; and operator-controlled means to move the plunger.

19. In combination with. a storage bin, a roof on the bin having a hatchway; an inclined trackway for the hatchway; a cover on the track adapted to move to the upper the'hatchway and to gravitate to close the same; a carrier movable over the bin; an abutment fixedon the carrier; an arm pivotally mounted on the top of the cover intermediate the ends thereof; a counterweight on the pivoted arm normally to hold the arm below the plane of travel of the-abutment; a crank arm on the pivoted arm; a slidable plunger beneath the roof adjacent the lower end of the trackway; cam portions on the plunger; means connected to the crank arm and operable by the cam portions on the plunger to project the pivoted arm in the plane of the abutment; and operator-controlled means to actuate the plunger.

20. In combination withV a storage bin, a roof on the bin having a hatchway; an inclined trackway for the hatchway; a cover on the track adapted to move to the upper end of the track to open the hatchway and to graviate to close the same; a carrier mova fixed abutment on the carrier; an arm pivotally mounted on theftop of the cover intermediate the ends thereof; a counterweight on the arm adapted normally to hold the arm below the plane of travel of the abutment; a crank arm on the pivoted arm; a slidable plunger beneath the roof adjacent the lower end of the trackway; cam portions on the plunger; means connected to the crank arm and operable by the cam portions on the plunger to swing the pivoted arm ,upwardly into the plane of the abutment; means to 'limit the upward swingingmovement of the arm; solenoid means to actuate the plunger; and a pulling element connected to the plunger whereby the plunger may be actuated manually.

21. Incombination with a storage'bin, a roof on the bin having a hatchway;'an inclined trackway'for the hatchway; a cover on the track adapted to move to the upperV end of the track to open the hatchway and to gravitate toclose the same; a carrier movable over the bin; an abutment fixed on the carrier; an arm pivotally mounted on the top of the cover intermediate the ends thereof; a counterweight on the arm adapted normally to hold the arm below the plane of travel of the abutment; a crank arm on the pivoted arm; a lever pivoted beneath the cover; means connecting the lever to the crank arm; said pivoted arm being raised so as tobe engaged by the abutment when the lever is moved on its pivot; and operator-controlled, solenoid-actuated means for moving said lever.

22. In combination with a storage bin, a roof on the bin having a-hatchway; an inclined trackway adjacent the hatchway; a

- cover adapted to move to the upper end of the track to open the hatchway and to gravitate to close the same a carrier movable over the bin; an abutment fixed on the carrier; an arm pivotally mounted on the top of the Cover intermediate the ends thereof; a counterweight on the arm to normally hold the arm below the plane of travel of the abutment; a crank arm on the pivoted arm; a lever pivoted beneath the cover; means connecting the lever to the crank arm, said pivoted arm being raisedto position to be engaged by the abutment when the lever is moved on its pivot; a plunger slidably mounted beneath the roof and having cam portions adapted to engage with and move the lever on its pivot; and remote control means for moving the plunger.

23. In combination with a series of storage bins each having an automatically closing hatchway cover mounted to roll up an inclined trackway to open position; a trolley car guided to travel horizontally over the bins in the direction of opening movement of said covers; an abutment fixed on the car; a pivoted arm on each cover normally held below the plane of travel of the abutment; operator-controlled solenoid-actuated means for swinging the arm upright into the plane of travel of the iXed abutment; an electric switch on the car and having a depending plunger arranged in the path of the vertical movement ofthe arm when the cover is being opened by the car, whereby to break the trolley circuitand bring the car to a stop when it has reached the unloading position over the'open hatchway.

In testimony, that we claim the foregoing as our own, we have hereto affixed our signatures. Y

DANIEL E. STAIR. CHARLES L. MGDONALD. 

